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Why the Dual Degree?
Deciding on a graduate school is a difficult decision and most Erb students and alumni have grappled with the additional question of whether to pursue a dual degree. Overwhelmingly, they are happy with their choice. Here is what two recent Erb graduates have to say about their experience:
RINA HORIUCHI, Erb 2006
"Save the Environment -- Stop Drilling!"
"Save the Economy -- Stop Drilling!"
If you want to drive change, you need to be able to speak the language of the people who will help you create change. You need to understand their values and the incentive structures in which they work—otherwise your words will go in one ear and out the other. If you want to drive really big change, the kind of systemic change necessary to achieve a just and sustainable future, you need to be "multilingual." Ideally you would be able to speak Corporatese, NGOish, and Governmentan, among others. The Erb dual-degree program is an intensive curriculum not only in the languages of business and sustainability issues but in translation across these worlds.
I just re-entered the working world since my graduation less than a year ago and have been dependant on these skills in my current position. Since joining Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), I have found that our organization often plays the role of a facilitator, bringing together companies, NGOs, academics, SRI representatives, and academia to work on various environmental and social issues. In this position, BSR needs to be able not only to communicate with all of these stakeholders, but to also gain their trust in order to guide groups of varying perspectives towards a common goal. Often, when I switch back and forth speaking with representatives from corporations and NGOs, I am reminded of my days in school when I would shift modes between the business school and the School of Natural Resources and Environment. While my goals remain consistent, the language that I use is adapted towards the ear of the listener.
My career is not the only one that could benefit from "multilingual" skills. Moving towards a restorative economic system requires the collaboration of people from all sectors in society: business, civil society, public policy, religion, academia, etc. If you plan to be inside a company pushing a socially responsible agenda, it helps to understand how NGOs can help support your objectives from the outside. If you are working for an advocacy organization, it helps to know what will and will not persuade a company to make changes.
Here’s another perk—possibly my favorite—of the dual-degree program: I was not the only one graduating from this "multilingual" institute. I graduated from Erb with a network, a community, a family of people who speak the same set of languages as me. This group has been a source of comfort and support, both emotionally and in my career as our paths continue to cross as we work towards achieving a similar hopeful goal.
NICK CUCINELLI, Erb 2005
"Despite my pre-grad school background in government and environmental science, I simply could not fulfill my current role in an alternative energy technology firm without the knowledge and experience I gained through my integrated MS and MBA education from the Erb Institute. My job requires a technical understanding of conventional and renewable energy options, a firm grasp of U.S. and international energy and climate policy, and the ability to collaborate with state and Federal agencies and political leaders of both parties, skills which I honed through my policy and sustainable systems studies at SNRE and my experience with the Ross Energy Club. Yet my job also requires significant financial modeling skills, mastery of intellectual property law and marketing concepts, and the enterprise-wide insights of an entrepreneur which I gained through my Ross MBA studies, business plan competitions, and Erb internships. Put simply, my MS/MBA through the Erb Institute and my unparalleled Michigan experience have enabled me to launch a unique and exciting career in sustainable enterprise, and I recommend the program without reservation to anyone who understands the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach in aligning their career with their values."
REBECCA NADEL, Erb 2005
"Before Erb, I was an engineer working on military defense contracts related
primarily to marine acoustics. I had a an undergrad and a masters
degree in engineering and it wasn't until after I was so narrowly
focused, that I realized I was missing the bigger picture of the
environmental and social impacts that my work was having.
After graduating from Erb, I became the Sustainable Development and
Social Performance Manager for Shell Exploration and Production in the
Americas. I help integrate triple bottom line considerations into key
decision-making, and work to embedding this 'people, planet, profit
thinking' in business strategy, projects and operations throughout the
North and South America region where Shell's upstream business operates.
The dual degree truly defined my Michigan experience. I chose U of M
precisely because of the dual offering. For me, each degree was a
necessary and worthwhile component of my education and career switch.
One without the other would not have accomplished my goals- I would not
have had the expertise and perspective needed to bridge the business
and environmental realms.
The dual degree allowed me to make a somewhat radical move from hard
core engineering in a boutique firm to sustainable development strategy
in a large multi-national corporation. My dual degrees from Michigan
provided the credibility, network and confidence needed to successfully
make this significance change.
The MBA has helped me in a number of different ways- from devising and
implementing strategy, to change management, to effectively networking,
to human resource issues like onboarding, negotiating and managing
staff. It also puts me on equal footing with other corporate managers
and helps me relate to them.
The MS provided the technical piece of my environmental education that
allows me to speak knowledgably about the science that my company bases
its decisions on. I have the ability to critique reports and comments
from advisors and consultants, and can serve as a liason between the
business and the science community."
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